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Showing posts with label cheese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheese. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Post # 171 - Sargento and the Swiss Cheese Lie

Dear Sargento,

We live in 2010. I can check my email on the other side of the world, climbing a mountain. Using my cell phone. I can download a movie and watch it without even getting up. They’re making Sequeways that operate using eyeball movements.

Why does Swiss cheese still have the holes in it? I’m sure when they first started, the holes came from gasses released during the aging, or whatever, and to stifle the bubbles, was to stifle the flavor.

Are you telling me in 2010, where we disinfect our hands while driving down the street, you can’t make the same great Swiss cheese we’ve all come to know and love, without the holes?

Are the holes still there to appease us? To make us feel secure? Is there fear in the dairy industry, that a Hole-less Swiss would freak people out?

Are the holes in fact a cost saving measure? By selling holes with the cheese, the cheese actually looks larger than it is. Like an 80’s rock star packin' a roll of Necco’s.  Pretty slick.

I guess I’m wondering when you’re going to end the great big lie, which is Swiss Cheese with holes.

Sincerely,

Jerry

PS – I’d ask to tour your facility, but I bet it smells like sweet death when that cheese is aging.

PPS –Do people from Sargento and people from Kraft call each other names?
--------------------------
Subject: RE: Sargento Contact Us
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:09:10 -0500
From: Ask_Us@sargento.com

Dear Mr. Herman --

Thank you for your e-mail. Holes in Swiss cheese (also called "eyes") are a very desirable characteristic. They form while curing when one of the starter cultures produces carbon dioxide that is trapped in the cheese and forms pockets. They are an important part of the making of Swiss cheese.

Pat
Sargento Consumer Affairs Department
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Post# 130 - Hormel and Their Jacked Up Snack

This was a car trip snack when we drove to Florida.  I found the math both tricky and difficult as I ate and drove.  I sent this letter on 2/17/2010.

Dear Hormel,


I am an avid snacker. It’s a passion. As a short order cook at a truck stop, I never have time for a big meal. I often enjoy quick snacks between omelet platters, patty melts, and biscuits with gravy. Last week, I happened upon your Hormel Ham, Cheddar and Cracker Snack Tray.

Your nutrition information shows one serving consisting of: 16 hams, 7 cheddars, 5 crackers. I counted--the package contains: 40 cheeses, 40 hams, 24 crackers. I’m assuming the ham and cheeses are measured by weight.

I’m a sandwich man. Always have been. Since you’re saying 5 crackers = one serving, this determines that in order to maintain your ratios, I need to have 10 crackers, 32 hams, and 14 cheeses. However, the math never adds up—you always end up with a ham-less cracker sandwich, or a not enough crackers.

I threw away the rulebook. The package contains 24 crackers, or 12 sandwiches. Each sandwich gets 3 and 1/3 cheeses and 3 and 1/3 hams. It becomes pretty cumbersome. The cracker sandwich height exceeds my mouth-hole diameter. Therefore, I have to hastily disassemble my creations, and make them mouth-sized. In the process, the ratios of cracker, cheese and ham get distorted.

Why do you torment us with mixed fractions and remainders? Why can’t you make your snack component quantities more snack-sandwich friendly? I’m not asking you to pre-assemble anything. Just for once, have the same people who do the nutrition information talk to the bean counters who determine the quantities of cheese, ham, and crackers.

And for Gosh Sakes, make the serving size include an even number of crackers for those of us in the Sandwich Club.

Sincerely,

Jerry

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Monday, March 15, 2010

Post # 88 - War On Spam: Monica, The Girl Who Stole Razia's Hat - 1/13/2010

This letter refers to Razia, the star of Post # 86.
------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:43:25 +0800
From: monicanice09@yahoo.co.id
Subject: Hi

Hi, Am Monica Riche,26yrs,single girl.i will love to know you more
---------------------------------------------------------------------
My response 1/16/2010

Hi Monica.


You sure say a lot in a short sentence. I will love to know you more too.

Me first. I am in the business of cheese. I own a Cheese Shoppe. I make the cheese. I pour milk and bacteria into a vat. I age it, and as it ages, it smells like death. I walk around all day reeking of death. People stay clear of me. I once cleared out the first five rows of an Aerosmith Concert. Joe Perry asked me to please leave. The problem is, I can shower and shower and shower, and the smell never goes away.

On top of that, I have a lot of skin problems and scabies. I have ringworm, a tapeworm, a medium sized goiter and the gout. My jaw cracks when I chew pudding, I burp involuntarily mid-sentence, and I have acne. Lots and lots of that. I also snore.

In addition, I hate little kids and puppies, and I disrespect my elders. I took the mother of my children for everything she owns. She now lives in a shack, which is probably a shame since she's pretty nice. My kids put a positive spin on it--they're closer to nature. I pretty much hate all people with any redeeming values.

I may be a crusty, raunchy, possibly criminal 78 year-old who hates people and life, but I like my ladies. They have to be young and single, and willing to pay attention to me. I like to go to the Gentleman's clubs and spend spend spend on the ladies--the young ones. I have a rule--27 and younger.

What's your story? Please be brief again so we can focus on me again.

Sincerely,

Todd O'Hocketsmitch
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Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:21:01 +0800

From: monicanice09@yahoo.co.id
Subject: RE: Hi

Hi dear,

How are you today and thanks for your mail/care.please Iam Monica Riche from Liberia in w/africa.currently residing in dakar the capital city of senegal in w/africa.please i want us to take things cooperatings.

As i will tell you,my father before his untimely death,was one of the directors of national mining,Golds/Diamonds.

Since the death of my Father i decided to look for a life partner who can take proper good care of me and some little wealths he left behind.Because of this i decided to move out from my country Liberia to senegal to search for a better life partner.

But it was a little bad experience to me since i have not travelled to this country before.it happened that i lost my hand bag containing,my international passport, some samples of Golds and Diamonds and some cash and some valuables inside the bag.this happend in the Airport car parks while i was taking a little rest of my flieght from my country.iam left with only my ID Card.

Dear iam telling you this just because i want us to be help to each other.

Before the untimely death of my father, he burried a box containing some Golds and Diamonds near one flower tree in our compound.and according to my late father,he told me that the cost value of those items is between 50,000 US$ to 100 000 US$.

Dear please i want you to assist me with some little cash for my travel back home to get those items.then i will return back here with it,then i can sell some for my tickets and travelling documents and we arrange on how to meet.

if possible you can come down here yourself and take me along with you.

i promise to be loyal to you as long you can help me now that i need your assistance.

kindly get back to me on time. iam waiting please..As already now,you know my current situation here in this new country iam .

And please kindly send to me your picture/contacts address.Here is my pictures for you.

Please Dear,do not delay to get back to me please.we must be of great help to each other

Thanks for your understandings and cooperations.

yours future partner,

Monica Riche
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My response dated 1/18/2010

Hey Mon Mon,

Count me in. But let's settle something right now.

I'm also dating Razia, and her hat is missing. I think you stole it. Give it back.

Also, I expect a sincere apology.

There's no point in proceeding until this happens.

Sincerely,
Todd O'Hocketsmitch
-------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:44:57 +0800
From: monicanice09@yahoo.co.id
Subject: RE: Hi

Please dearest tell me if you are able to solve this matter out with me then i can count you in.we must be of great help to each other.thanks.Monica.
-----------------------------------------------
My response, sent 1/19/2010

Look Hat Thief,

Razia's pee-oh'ed at you. She told me to tell you that you'd better get that hat back to her ASAP. For me, the formal apology is a more important gesture than the returning of the hat. The hat is a crappy piece of felt with a feather. The apology is the very bedrock of the foundation of our business partnership. I often find, in these situations, a nice verse works well. Doesn't have to rhyme. Just show a little creativity.

Razia's exact words last night on the phone: "Don't you make me come over there and get that hat myself." Apparently you two live near one another and know one another. Please make this situation right. Then we can move forward.

Sincerely,

Todd O'Hocketsmitch

From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Post # 73 - War On Spam: Zongo Part 1 of 4 --His News of My Deceased Relative - 1/2/2010

The way this spam scam works:

Some guy somewhere sends me a note saying I have to pretend I’m some dead person’s relative so some money can be sent to my bank account. So I fill out an application and send it to a pretend banker person at a different email address. Part of this application includes my bank account number. I’m assuming that the different email addresses are the same person, and that this person uses my info to drain my bank account.  Or there are a bunch of processing fees down a road that never leads to any reward.   For whatever reason, I’ve never gotten that far.

So what happens if I tell the guy that I sent the application, but didn’t? Also, what happens if I take every opportunity to make fun of his name? And lastly, what if I take full advantage of his inferior knowledge of the English language.

This is a four parter due to length.  It spans three weeks.  It’s like a long ping pong volley.
---------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2010 16:31:55 +0100
Subject: URGENT ACTION HIGHLY NEEDED.
FROM: ZONGO ALI.
BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A)
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO
WEST AFRICA

DEAR FRIEND,

I KNOW THAT THIS MAIL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE. I AM THE BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER BOA BANK HERE IN OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO.

I HOPED THAT YOU WILL NOT EXPOSE OR BETRAY THIS TRUST AND CONFIDENT THAT I AM ABOUT TO REPOSE ON YOU FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF OUR BOTH FAMILIES.I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IN TRANSFERRING THE SUM OF ($25.6)MILLION IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR ACCOUNT.THE MONEY HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR YEARS IN OUR BANKHERE WITHOUT ANY BODY COMING FOR IT.

I WANT TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEAREST PERSON TO OUR DECEASED CUSTOMER(THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT)WHO DIED A LONG WITH HIS SUPPOSED NEXT OF KIN IN AN AIR CRASH SINCE JULY 2000.I DON'T WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO OUR BANK TREASURY AS AN ABANDONED FUND. SO THIS IS THE REASON WHY I CONTACTED YOU, SO THAT WE WILL RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEAREST PERSON TO THE DECEASED CUSTOMER.

PLEASE I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KEEP THIS PROPOSAL AS A TOP SECRET AND DELETE IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED.UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY,I WILL SEND YOU FULL DETAILS ON HOW THE BUSINESS WILL BE EXECUTED AND ALSO NOTE THAT YOU WILL HAVE 40% OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED SUM IF YOU AGREE TO TRANSACT THE BUSINESS WITH ME.PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH THIS E-MAIL ADDRRES azongo@voila.fr)

1) Your Full Name.............................
2) YourAge.......................................
3) Marital Status.................................
4) Your Cell Phone Number…………..
5) Your Country………………..............
6) Your Occupation.............................
7)YOUR SEX....................................
8) Your Religion.................................

THANK'S AND HOLPING TO HEAR FROM YOU

MR.ZONGO ALI.
-----------------------------
My response, dated 1/3/2010

Dear Mr. Zongo Badda-Ding-Ding-Dongo,

I was holping for an opportunity like this to come along. I see you’re a fan of the caps lock. I am very trusting of you. I’ve always relied on the kindness of strangers.

I had a number of different relatives die in air crashes in July of 2000, so can you be more specific? Which one was it? Parent? Spouse? Sibling? Cousin? Son or daughter? Aunt or Uncle?

1) My Full Name is Jeromius Von CheddarBurger
2) My Age is 65.
3) I think I’m married--unless that relative was my spouse on that air crash.
4) I don’t have a cell phone. They cause cancer, and the government traces our whereabouts and conversations (even when they aren’t on)
5) My country is USA
6) My Occupation is: I run the Von CheddarBurger Bed and Breakfast
7) I’m a boy.
8) Why do you need my religion? If you must know, I’m part of a new hybrid religion: Buddhist-Presbyterian.

Let me know the next step.

Jeromius Von CheddarBurger
-----------------------------------------------
To: azongo@voila.fr
Subject: RE: URGENT ACTION HIGHLY NEEDED.
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 21:43:52 -0500

Hey. Zingo-Zongo-Zing-Zing-Zongo,

They say on a winning team, sometimes the leader has to call out the other members of the team who are phoning it in.

You're on my team. We're winners. But right now, I feel like there's only one set of footprints. I'm carrying your ass. Let's go.

On a good team, members have cool nicknames. You're covered. I need one. I was thinking "Hoss" or "Big Hugo". Let me know.

Also, we need to do whatever the next step is.

Thanks.

Jermonius
------------------------
From: zongoali01@hotmail.fr
Subject: Waiting for your urgent reply
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 08:26:25 +0000

Mr Jermonius

I am not convince of your information’s provided and some of your words, are you really interested in this transaction at all?

Waiting for your urgent reply

Thanks

Mr ZONGO ALI
------------------------------------
To: zongoali01@hotmail.fr
Subject: RE: Waiting for your urgent reply
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 06:19:40 -0500

Mr. Zongo Zongo Pumpkin Pie, Who Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry,

I am indeed very interested. What information's are you questioning?

Over here, I'm still waiting for some information's from you to show that you are interested.

Namely: 1) Which of my relatives perished in the plane crash? 2) Where's my cool nickname.

Let's do this thing. I'm excited! And afterwards, let's the two of us go on a trip. Somewhere crazy like Greece.

Thanks,

Jermonius
----------------------------------
From: zongoali01@hotmail.fr
Subject: Go through details of this transaction carefully
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 19:44:05 +0000

Dear Jermonius

Go through details of this transaction carefully, though I am very happy for your kind reply, I assured of your capability and reliability to champion this business opportunity. I believe that God has a way of helping who is in need.

My name is MR ZONGO ALI I am bill and Exchange (assistant) Manager of the bank of Africa Ouagadougou Burkina Faso. Do not take this transaction to be a joke because it is my life.

So I want you to apply to our bank as the next of kin to our decease customer, so that this money would be transferred into your account in your country, after in which we shall visit your country for disbursement according to the percentages indicated.

Base on this, I will advise you to feel free, all is well. i studied this transaction very well before contacting you for assistance. Well, having served this bank for so many years now and nearing my retirement,

I deem it necessary to utilise this opportunity of the present unclaimed sum of money in the account sent in conjunction with the first proposal I sent to you to help my self and my family after my retirement, through the investment I will establish in your country with my percentage in the transaction.

There is no doubt about your eligibility as the legal next of kin to our deceased customer and owner of the account number NBOA 4934109, with the following reasons:

(a)Before the death of our deceased customer, his true next of kin was not indicated to the board of directors of the bank because of the top secrecy and confidentiality of the transactions which our late customer transacted with the various governments in West Africa.

(b)Owning to his failure to indicate his next of kin to the officials of the bank, it is therefore impossible for the board of directors of the bank to verify the next of kin as well as the true heartier of the fund.

(c)And for the above reasons, the managements of the bank authorised me officially as the executive manager, bill and exchange department of the bank to verify the next of kin to our deceased customer. Therefore, the bank will always abide by my official directions through the official authorisation best-tow on me.

And for this reasons you have nothing to fear as your interest and identity will be legally protected. All you have to do is this; you have to arrange a good receiving Bank account where you shall receive this money without any problem, I shall be giving you all the developmental information from the bank as soon as this transaction commences.

I know that you will not betray me when this money enters into your account in your country. I have all my hope in this transaction because I shall soon go on retirement. I am a simple banker whose credibility is still intact and with my maturity and understanding, I promise to give you the best co-operation.

We must hurry up with this transaction so that our bank and the government shall not claim and inherit this money because it has over-stayed.

I will be waiting for your immediate respond so that I will give you the text of application which you will use to apply to our bank as next of kin.

For easy communication here is my number +226 78 68 65 92

Best regards.

MR ZONGO ALI
-----------------------------------------------------
My response on 1/7/2010:
Dear Mr. Zongo Zongo For Whom I Write My Songo, For Whom I Bang My Bongo, So Won’t You Sing Alongo,


Your credibility is intact indeed! I trust you. I get it now—I’m pretending a relative died and I’m the next of kin. We’re pulling a fast one. This is fun!

I’m 100% on board. Let’s do this. Give me the application. In the meantime, I’m developing a backstory about my next of kin, in case we get questions.

Here’s what I have so far:

-She was my Maternal Grandmother Libby Von ShroomBerger
-She loved oatmeal cookies, but loathed oatmeal.


-She was working as a magician’s assistant for Houdini, on the day he got punched in the tummy.


-She never drove a car, yet was an accomplished NASCAR Driver


-Her beef vegetable soup tasted like chicken noodle soup, and vice versa (I think she had the recipes mis-labeled).

Let me know what we do next. You can trust me. I still need my nickname.

Thanks,

Jermonius
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TO BE CONTINUED....
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Post # 54 - Kraft Cheese Slice "Skin" - 5/5/1998


Kraft's Customer Service is among the best. They had two options. 1) Call me an idiot. 2) Go out of their way to make me feel appreciated, throwing coupons and even assigning blame on themselves. They took the high road, going as far to say that their "lab" investigated the foreign matter.


Dear Cheese Weasels,

I love cheese. I always have. In high school, some of my cronies nicknamed me “The Mouse”. Between classes, I’d walk down the halls and they’d say “Hey. There goes the Mouse!” I was a good sport about it until some wise apple put a loaded mousetrap into the pocket of my gym short pockets and it went off during calisthenics.

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I tried your individual cheese slices. In the past, I had always favored traditional cheese—Colby, Swiss, and Muenster. I love cheese, and that is why it is hard for me to write about what happened.

I like eating cheese sandwiches, and the process of slicing my cheese off of a big block has just become too tedious. So I went to the store and succumbed to temptation. I bought your cheese slices and brought them home. As I opened the package, the pretty maids were all in a row, like a brand new deck of cards. I took one slice from the middle of the deck, placed it on my rye bread, with a leaf of lettuce, a dollop of mayonnaise, some ham and tomato.

As I bit into it, something was strange. The cheese seemed a little tough. The outer skin was almost impossible to chew. The inside tastes so good that I can’t stop eating it. But that outer skin is nasty.

I am dissatisfied with the cheese that I purchased. I would appreciate an explanation as to why each slice I have eaten has been tough. Like a trooper, I ride the storm out with each slice, only to gain the final satisfaction of what I call “inner-cheese bliss”. But these would be much better without the tough outer skin. Are you leaving them out too long? Sometimes with traditional cheese, if I leave it out too long, it gets a tough outer coating. Please respond.

My Cravings I Appease With Plenty of Cheese,

Larry
------------------------------------------------
Response from Kim at Kraft, dated May 7, 1998:

Dear Larry,

We are sorry to learn of your disappointment with our products. Your satisfaction is our greatest concern, and we want to know if a product fails to meet your expectation.

To achieve the high quality products which our consumers have every right to expect, we give careful attention to each step of preparation and packaging in our manufacturing process. We begin with the careful selection and blending of ingredients using proportions and methods that have been outlined by our food technologists in order to achieve the proper flavor and consistency. The production lines are closely monitored, and samples from each production run are tested and evaluated before shipment in an effort to prevent any unsatisfactory products from entering distribution.

The quality of all the cheese is dependent upon the milk supply used, which in turn depends on factors such as times of the year, weather and animal feed. We take into account all of these variables, and maintain strict specifications for the milk and other ingredients. During the manufacture of our cheese products, we are constantly testing and checking moisture and fat content, from the raw ingredients to the finished products, so that our product is uniform in flavor and consistency.

We appreciate your bringing this to our attention and have notified the individuals responsible for the manufacture of this product to try to prevent any recurrence. We regret that you obtained a product that was inconsistent with its usual quality and, therefore, are enclosing reimbursement for your purchase. We hope you will enjoy a new purchase, and that it will meet with your expectations.

Sincerely,

Kim

Enclosed: Coupon for free Kraft Product
-----------------------------------------
My reply, dated 5/22/1998

Dear Kim,

Thank you for your quick response to my cheese problem.

In your letter, you related the quality of the cheese to the milk supply quality, which depends on factors such as weather. I am wondering if El Nino has reared its ugly head yet again. Because I am finding that every slice of your cheese is affected by the ravages of this strange “skin”. I have begun “peeling” this skin off. I am sending a skin—please have your food technologists analyze it.

In your letter, you mentioned milk as the critical ingredient, and weather as a contributor to its success or failure. I’ll bet when it’s all said and done, the lab results will come back with all signs pointing at…El Nino. Please keep me posted.

Peeling the Skin From My Cheese Again,


Larry

Enclosed: One “skin” (a cheese cellophane wrapper)
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Rhonda’s response, dated June 12, 1998:

Dear Larry,

Thank you for your patience while our laboratory analysts examined the foreign matter you indicated you found in our product, Kraft Deluxe Process Cheese Slices. We appreciate having the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

Our laboratory analysts identified the foreign matter as a piece of plastic packaging. To achieve the high quality products which our customers have every right to expect, we give careful attention in our manufacturing processes to each step of production and packaging. Our quality control personnel maintain close supervision of the production lines in an effort to detect any problems or unsatisfactory packaging. We regularly check our production lines, however, oversights may sometimes occur.

We appreciate your bringing this to our attention and have notified the individuals responsible for the manufacture of this product. Enclosed is a complimentary coupon for your use. We hope we may continue to count you among our most valued consumers.

Sincerely,

Rhonda

Enclosed: Coupon for Kraft Deluxe Process Cheese Slices (Note: NOT INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED!!!!!)
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